Team Performance : 32/100

Franchise Value : 38/100

Profit Loss : 76/100

Difficulty : 72/100 

YEAR END SCORE : 50 

G Jerome Daniels is the Franchise player.

We are $38,960,000 under the cap but only 19 players are signed through 2000.

The good thing is that we can build on QB Blaine Davies and RB Lamont Foley. 

We have been able to resign almost all of our FA players, as i expected.

Key FA pickups :

G Ruben Brown (6 year vet, 100/90/86)

CB Ty Law (6 year vet, 88/99/94) -we desperately needed help for our secondary-

CB Terrell Buckley (9 year vet, 71/86/91/84)

S Charles Mincy (9 year vet, 94/95/100)

C Jeff Smith (5 year vet, 91/88/66) - to take over for aging Center Jim Sweeney-

LB James Logan (6 year vet, 84/69/78/72) -clearly needed a strong LB...-

WR Carl Pickens (9 year vet, 87/52/82/97) 
 

The Browns are "worth" $414,650,000 (2nd NFL)

Stadium (63)

Roster (100)

Support (90)

Economy (36)

in one year, we have gone from having a roster of 1 to 100

Also the franchise has gone from being the 19th more profitable to the 2nd in that same span. 

Amateur Draft Report: 

Rnd 1 - Ronald Stark, TE, Florida

Rnd 2 - Edwin Bednarik, FB, Clemson

Rnd 3 - Dwayne Sellers, DT, Arkansas

Rnd 4 - B.J. Carr, CB, Rice

Rnd 5 - Corwin Matthews, LB, Nevada

Rnd 7 - J.R. Farmer, LB, Arizona State 

TE Ronald Stark is an an outstanding prospect and we were looking for a FB : 2nd rounder Edwin Bednarik looks impressive.

4th rounder B.J Carr is a future star.

7th rounder LB J.R Farmer is a steal !

This is clearly another good draft for us, sure we'll have to see over the long haul (3/4 year) but these players already fill holes greatly.  

Pre-season : 

We finish the preseason 3-1 (2-0 with convincing wins when the starters were playing).

QB Blaine Davies was OK, not exceptionnal but this is preseason. RB Lamont Foley was very good but the most impressive player in those games was FA WR J.J Stokes who averaged 7 catches per game. Still he remains the n°3 receiver for the moment after Carl Pickens and Chris Sanders.

FAs S Charles Mincy and CB Ty Law showes some good things in the games they played. 

No injury at all at the start of the regular season this is excellent news. 

All I have to say i that i'm pleased with the way the team is shaping up so far. Honestly I envision a playoff spot for us as soon as this year. This is the goal for 2000. 
 

Roster Cohesion : 

passing (51)

Off Line (53)

Deff front (55)

secondary (43)  

regular season 2000 starts : 

Week 1 at titans (titans were 11-5 last year) - 4pt underdog : L 17-23 OT

Close game...down 9-17 with 6 minutes to play we come back in the game with a Davies to Stokes TD and a 2pt conversion but in overtime, a 44 yard run by Titans' Nichols sets the game winning TD pass from Mc Nair. Browns' s Charles Mincy has 2 INTs in the game.

QB Blaine Davies goes 17/35 152 yards 1 TD and 1 INT.

RB Foley has 85 yards on 14 carries. 
 

Week 2 at Steelers (0-0) - 2pt fav : L 24-28

We lead 14-0 before being burnt on 2 big plays by the Steelers. Brown had a 24-21 lead with 3 minutes left in the game before the Steelers scored that last TD to win.

foley has 143 yards and a TD on 16 carries (but Steelers' Bettis has even more 150 yards and 2 TDs). QB Davies goes 16/30 166 yards 1 TD and 1 INT, almost the same average game as last week.

We are now 0-2 and badly need a win. Lucky us, except the Steelers now 1-0, no teams in our division is better than 1-1. 

Week 3 Vs Redskins (2-0) - 3pt fav : W 24-10

1st win of the season at last !

QB Davies is 16/27 206 yards and a TD. Though he didn't make any mistake, we're still on hold for his 1st big passing day. This is the reason why we are somehow stuggling a bit at the moment, Davies is currently not playing up to his potential.

RB Lamont Foley had another great game, 125 yards on 21 attemtps with 2 TDs.

C Jeff Smith is out for 2/3 months with a broken wrist.

1st round pick TE Ronald Stark has a broken hand (3/5 weeks) and will not play next week. 

Week 4 Vs Ravens (2-1) - 4pt fav : W 16-10

QB Davies had 221 yards and RB Foley was held to a season low 43 yards on 19 carries.

Still we managed to win thanks to some big plays that set field goals.

WR Pickens had 6 catches for 66 yards and Sanders 5 catches for 71 yards and a TD.

Defensively we picked off rookie QB Marais (3rd pick in 2000 NFL draft) twice.

With a 2-2 record, we are now 2nd in the Central division. 

Tackle Tony Hutson is out 2/3 month with a torn thumb ligament.

Center Jeff Smith's healing goes faster than planned, is expected to be back in 2/5 weeks. 
 

Week 5 Vs Jaguars (3-1) - 8pt underdog : W 38-27

for the 1st time in franchise history, the Browns (3-2) hold a winning record during the season and are atop the division.

QB Blaine Davies has his breakthrough game of the year : 22/38 352 yards 3 TDs and 2 INTs.

For the second week in a row, Foley is unable to run : 20 yards on 10 carries.

But that was clearly a passing show as WRs Pickens had 7 catches for 145 yards and a TD and Sanders 6 catches 139 yards and a TD as well.

CB Ty Law and S Mincy both intercepted a pass and Mincy's was returned 38 yard for a TD. 
 

Week 6 Vs Titans (2-3) - 8pt fav : W 30-27

a rushing TD from QB Blaine Davies with 1 minute to go ties the game at 27. then, with a few seconds left and the ball on their 16 yard line, Mc Nair is picked off and that sets our game winning field goal.

QB Blaine Davies goes 17/34 226 yards 2 TDs and a pick. Foley has only 31 yards. Ty Law intercepts a pass for the 2nd straight week. This is our 4th win in a row. 

Carl Pickens breaks his hand and his out for 3/5 weeks  

Week 7 Vs Bengals (3-2) - 4pt fav : L 9-37

Worst home loss since Browns came back to the NFL.

Corey Dillon rushes for 157 yards and 3 TDs. QB Blaine Davies is ineffective (5/19 73 yards 2 INTs) before being replaced by backup John Kitna (5/10 34 yrds 1 TD 1 INT).

For the 4th straight weel, RB Lamont Foley is uneffective 14 yards on 4 carries.

Obviously C Jeff Smith's injury prevent him from finding holes.

We have a bye week after the Cardinals game so hopefully players will be rested. 

Arizona is the only undefeated team in the league... 

Week 8 at Arizona (7-0) - 12pt underdog : W 38-17

GREAT WIN ! awesome...we took a 17-0 but the Cards answers and came back in the game 17-14.

Then Davies and Foley started playing well and scored TDs that would put the game out of reach for Arizona.

Davies has 270 yards 2 TDs and 2 INTs. RB Foley comes back strong with 144 yards and 3 TDs.

On defense, Terrell Buckley and Charles Mincy both has an interception. 

We go on bye week with a 5-3 record (2nd AFC Central) halfway through the season.

Last year at the same time we were 2-6 and still managed to end 7-9 : I'm very hopefull we will make the Playoffs in our 2nd year. 
 

Week 9 Vs Jets (5-3) - 1pt fav : L 27-40

funny how the team is playing from one week to another. 2nd straight home loss.

QB Davies left after 2 quarters, he stretched his knee ligament and will be out 3/5 weeks.

Jon Kitna came in the game and was fine : 11/25 308 yards 3 TDs and 1 INT , this numbers are explained by the fact that we were down pretty big and had to take our chances with deep long balls.

Jets RB Curtis Martin set a season high with 259yards rushing on the day and 2 TDs...

Tackle Tony Hutson won't be back until the playoffs. 
 

Week 10 Vs Jaguars (5-4) -3pt fav : W 33-8

a good win with Jon Kitna as the QB (19/32 206 yard 1 INT). RB Foley has a great game 19 carries for 117 yards and 2 TDs.

DE Mike Mamula intercepts the QB and returns the ball 39 yards for a TD.

Lot's of injuries unfortunately and among them, WR Pickens re-injured his broken hand and is out until the playoffs. 
 

Week 11 Vs Ravens (7-7) -2pt underdog : L 13-40

Our defense gets shredded but it is backup Jon Kitna who really sinks the ship going 14/32 with 2 INTs in the Ravens endzone...

Foley has 48 yards on 11 carries and WR Hatchette 3 catches for 74 yards and 1 TD

Ravens RB Priest Holmes runs for 177 yards against our defense. 

JJ Stokes as a turf toe and is out for 3/5 weeks. And with n°1 WR Carl Pickens out until the playoffs we are forced to release 17year vet Center Jim Sweeney to grab WR Dedric Ward from the FA pool. 
 

Week 12 at Eagles (4-7) -Even : L

Foley rushes for 30 yards on 10 carries and QB Kitna is awful 10/29 150yards and 3 INTs.

For his 1st game WR Dedric Wards catches 3 balls for 76 yards. Nothing on defense.

Our record is now 6-6 as we lost 4 of our last 6.

Cincinnati is atop the division at 8-4. 
 

Week 13 Vs Raiders (6-6) -4pt fav : W 30-16

RB Lamont Foley rushes for 125 yards and a TD on 21 carries while Jon Kitna throws for 274 yards and 2 TDs but is also intercepted 3 times.

WR Ward has a great game (7 catches 102 yards and 1 TD) and on defense, CB Ty Law intercepts 2 balls en route to being the game's MVP. 

QB Blaine Davies is now cleared to play so he comes back in the starting lineup after missing 4 games. 

Week 14 at Chiefs (2-11) -5pt fav : W 24-21

a 21-7 lead with 4 minutes left in the game was blown thanks to two quick Chiefs TDs. And so with 20 secondes left, the game is tiesd at 21 then Blaine Davies fires a 45yard pass that sets an incredible game winning field goal of 43yards with no seconds on the clock !

For his return in the lineup, QB Davies has had a great game going 22/35 262 yards 3 TDs and no interceptions. He also made that great throw in the game's dire seconds...

RN Lamont Foley rushed for 63 yards on 18 carries.

DE Jason Taylor recorded 4.0 sacks in the game ! 

Starting DT Tony Williams is out for the season with Arthroscopic Knee Surgery. He's placed in inured reserve and FA DT Rick Barker is signed. 

at 8-6 our last two games are against division leaders Bengals andSteelers (both 9-5).

That means everything is still possible... 

Week 15 at Bengals (9-5) -5pt underdog : L 20-24

very tough loss as the Bengals won the game with a TD with 24 secs to play...

Our record drops to 8-7 with one game left.

QB Blaine Davies does what he has to do going 16/32 193yards with 2 TDs and 0 INT. Foley rushes for 90 yards on 14 carries. DE Taylor has another great game as this time he sacks the QB 3.5 times. (he has 7.5 sacks over the last two games).

Bengals RB Corey Dillon rushes for 125 yards and a TD.

This loss is huge.

We don't control our postseason destiny now and we have a tough season finale against division leader Pittsburgh... 
 

... ! The Chargers, Jaguars ans Titans lost their last game ! help from the sky !

That means a win at home against the (10-5) Steelers sends us Browns in the playoffs ! 

Week 16 Vs Steelers (10-5) -Even : W 31-14

PLAYOFFS !!!

QB Blaine Davies is 13/25 for 221 yards 3 TDs and 2 INTs and Foley has only 53 yards on 15 carries but what a win it is ! a convincing performance against another playoff team.

2nd year pro LB Barry Schneiderheinze has Torn Calf Muscle and is out long term. 

We finish our second season with a winning record (9-7) worth 3rd AFC Central and more importantly : worth a playoff spot !

We have achieved the goal that I set after training camp and i'm proud of that team. 

A lot of players are severely injured and won't be able to play in the post-season so now that we have maxed out the potential of that 2nd year franchise, everything that comes next is bonus. 

PLAYOFFS,  

Wild Card round : Cleveland Browns (9-7) at New York Jets (11-5) -6pt underdog : W 42-27

1st postseason win in franchise history !

2nd year QB Blaine Davis is the player of the week with a career high 5 TDs in the game.

He, by the way, sets the new NFL Playoff record for TD passes in one game.

Blaine is 15/25 263 yards 5 TDs 0 INT. For his 1st playoff appearance, it seems as we have a clutch player rising his game in the biggest games.

CB Ty Law and S Charles Mincy each record 2 INTs ans Muncy returns one for a TD.

Starting S Laomont Evans is out. 

Divisional Playoffs : Cleveland Browns (10-7) at Denver Broncos (11-5) -6pt underdog : W 16-6

the Browns are in the final fous of professional football in only their 2nd season !

QB Blaine Davis is once again the player of the game as he completes -in a low scoring affair- 14/26 for 144 yards 1 TD and 0 INT.

RB Lamont Foley is out with a sprained neck and placed on injured reserve. I then signed FA RB Duce Staley.

T Tony Hutson is also out, as well as CB Terrell Buckley (broken nose) 

AFC Championship Game : Cleveland Browns (11-7) at Bengals (12-5) -4pt underdog : L 7-40

no match in this Championship game with 18 players injured.

QB Blaine Davis threw a TD pass but was intercepted 3 times and Duce Staley, though he rushed for 64 yards, was only given the ball 5 times (12.8 yards/c).

Bengals Neil O'Donnel had 353 yards 3TDs and no interceptions against a Browns defense ravaged by injuries. 

Bengals win the SuperBowl 17-10 Vs Chicago Bears. 

Season Awards : DE Jason Taylor and LB James Logan are All-League 2nd Team. 

QB Blaine Davies ends the season with 12 games played (2405 yards 20 TDs 14 INTs for a 74.8 Rating) and some very good post-season outings.

RB Lamont Foley had 1167 yards (4.8 yards/c) and 9 TDs.

WR Chris Sanders was the team's leader receivers with 49 catches and 751 yards & 5 TDs

WR JJ Stokes had 37 catches for 544 yards & 3 TDs

WR Carl Pickens (hurt for almost half the season) had 33 catches 488 yards & 3 TDs 

On defense, All-Pro LB James Logan led the team with 121 tackles and All-Pro DE Jason Taylor had 17.5 sacks.

Taylor is a FA next year so it might be worth for my successor to place the Franchise tag on him. 

All in all that was two successfull first seasons with goals more than achieved :

7-9 expansion season record in 1999

9-7 regular season record in 2000 with a Playoff berth

2-1 in 2000 post-season with a berth into the AFC Championship game. 

I believe this team is now well structured. Once again there will be some FA from our team to resign to keep and improve our cohesion but the nucleus is now here.

QB Blaine Davies should peak in 3/4 years but he already makes big plays and few mistakes.